Linux on a Commodore 64
We are used to seeing Linux running on almost everything, but we were a bit taken aback to see [semu-c64] running Linux on a Commodore 64. But between the checked-out …read more Continue reading Linux on a Commodore 64
Author Archives: Al Williams
Kitchen Steganography with Turmeric
It is a classic rite of passage for nerdy kids to write secret messages using lemon juice. If you somehow missed that, you can’t see the writing until you heat …read more Continue reading Kitchen Steganography with Turmeric
Linux Fu: The Old School Terminal
Maybe you have a vintage old-school computer. Maybe you have a replica. Maybe you just want to run SIMH and relive the glory days of CP/M or VMS. The problem …read more Continue reading Linux Fu: The Old School Terminal
A Bubble Machine Built from Scrap
Not every project has to be an AI-powered particle accelerator using lasers. Sometimes simple projects can be very satisfying, and a simple project can be a great gateway to introduce …read more Continue reading A Bubble Machine Built from Scrap
An Odd Home Computer From the 1980s
If you were around when the Altair 8800 was king, you might remember the name Cromemco. They were an early vendor of add-ons for the Altair, along with companies like …read more Continue reading An Odd Home Computer From the 1980s
Measuring Planck’s Constant (Again)
There are many well-known physical constants, but it always interests us when someone can approximately measure them using equipment you probably have. We could pretend it is because we want …read more Continue reading Measuring Planck’s Constant (Again)
Transforming a Keyboard to a Mouse in Software
You’ve probably heard the old saying that if it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck… So when is a keyboard a mouse? When software makes it …read more Continue reading Transforming a Keyboard to a Mouse in Software
Data Recovery in the Woodshed
A 1TB drive fails. How do you recover the data? If you are like us, you imagine a high-tech lab with serious-looking technicians and engineers. [John Graham-Cumming] managed it in …read more Continue reading Data Recovery in the Woodshed
Ask Hackaday: Why Retrocomputing?
I recently dropped in on one of the Vintage Computer Festival events, and it made me think about why people — including myself — are fascinated with old computer technology. …read more Continue reading Ask Hackaday: Why Retrocomputing?
Dielectric Mirror Shines Bright
We knew the mirrors in our house were not really very good mirrors, optically speaking. Your mirror eats up 20 to 40 percent of the light that hits it. High-quality …read more Continue reading Dielectric Mirror Shines Bright